There's Nothing New Here: Pressure Again On Giants

Giants: Different Direction Than Cowboys

November 26, 1992|By DOM AMORE; Courant Staff Writer

IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are that rarity in the NFL this season: a team living up to high preseason expectations.

Dallas (9-2), with its two-game lead in the NFC East, plays the fourth-place Giants (5-6) today at Texas Stadium (4 p.m., Channel 3). The Cowboys were picked by many to win the Super Bowl before the season -- and they've had fun, rather than been pressured, by those forecasts.

"Wow, the Super Bowl," said Michael Irvin, the Cowboys' All-Pro wide receiver. "You know we're not supposed to talk about that now, but there are times when I'm [alone] and I dream about the Super Bowl."

The Cowboys have been as balanced and consistent as any team in the league.

"In any city, the expectations of the fans [go] above and beyond what is realistic," coach Jimmy Johnson said. "Our goal coming into the season was to be better than we were a year ago [11-5], and we've pretty much done that.

"I'd say that since we're the youngest team [an average of 25.4] in the NFL, we've been more consistent than I would have predicted."

The Cowboys beat the Giants at the Meadowlands 34-28 in Week 2 -- nearly blowing a 34-0, third-quarter lead. The Giants, who are chasing the Redskins for the last playoff spot, need the game today more than Dallas, and the Cowboys know it.

"I always use the word `worried,' ' Irvin said. "The Giants have the talent to beat anybody, everybody knows that. And with every team we play, we get their best game. So we're prepared to play the Giants at their best -- with everybody playing together."

Yes, therein hangs the subplot. Going in and coming out of their 47-34 loss to Philadelphia Sunday, Giants players grumbled. Veterans of their struggling defense -- Pepper Johnson, Mark Collins, Carl Banks -- have been complaining about game plans, last-minute changes and player-coach communication, all symptoms of

a team falling short of expectations, and falling apart.

"Their defense has all the same talent that won the Super Bowl two years ago," Irvin said. "Things just aren't clicking for them."

Not so for Dallas, which is in the NFL's top six in total offense (fifth), rushing (sixth), passing (fifth), total defense (first), rushing defense (third) and passing defense (third).

The defense, bolstered by first-round draft picks Robert Jones (47 tackles) at middle linebacker and Kevin Smith at cornerback, and pass-rushing linebacker/end Charles Haley, acquired in an August trade with San Francisco, has allowed 241.7 yards a game, 70 below the league average, and 162 points. Opponents have made first downs on only 25.8 percent (32 of 124) of third down situations.

On offense, Dallas features Troy Aikman with 2,509 yards and 13 touchdown passes at quarterback; Emmitt Smith, the NFC's top rusher with 1,127 yards and 13 touchdowns; Irvin (52 catches for 1,057 yards and five TDs) and Jay Novacek (45 catches, 388 yards) at tight end.

Special teams? Dallas blocked two punts against the Giants Sept. 13 and Kelvin Martin, averaging 13.6 yards, is second in the NFC in punt returns.

"They are playing with a great deal of confidence," Handley said. "They expect, when they are in a close game, to win that game. I don't think they could play any better than they did in the first half against us."

The Giants also have balance. Their shortcomings, especially against the Eagles, have been spread among the offense (six sacks allowed), defense (365 yards given up) and special teams (a blocked punt and punt return for TDs).

With Jeff Hostetler, who had a concussion, out for today, rookie Kent Graham, 24, will start at quarterback. Graham, an eighth-round draft pick, has completed 15 of 32 passes for 192 yards in three mop-up relief appearances.

"When you prepare for the Giants," Johnson said, "you have to stop Rodney Hampton [874 yards] and Jarrod Bunch [348]. They have three backs averaging more than 4.5 yards a carry [Hampton, 4.6; Bunch, 4.7; and Dave Meggett, 5.9], so they must be doing a good job of running the ball."

If the Giants' running game, which was rated first in the NFL three weeks ago but has not been a factor since, doesn't come up big, it could be a long day under the scrutiny of a national TV audience -- and another tense 10 days before Washington comes to Giants Stadium Dec. 6